How do I go to get my hair done at the salon and say “oh wait, don’t poo my hair!” What is your suggestion for bringing up with with the stylist who already piles on the product at the end? It’s true. We hair stylists can get a little out of hand with styling products. Just speak up! Some of my friends who no-poo endure the occasional regular shampoo when they go in to get their haircut, and then they go back to no-pooing at home. I personally turn into a walking cotton ball if shampoo comes near my hair. Please don’t be shy about it with your stylist! If you are worried he or she won’t have the right products then bring your own. Weirder things have happened, I guarantee it. If you don’t want to bring your own then offer to read all the labels while you are getting coiffed. Your stylist might already know about no-pooing, and if he/she doesn’t, then educate!
I’ve been using a sulfate free shampoo and conditioner, however they are for colored hair which I don’t have. I can’t seem to find a sulfate free for regular hair unless it’s organic and pricey. Where do I find it?
Using sulfate free products is en vogue for maintaining hair color, which is why you are finding them more easily. Those products are just extra gentle and are great for your hair even if you don’t color. I think that haircare products will continue to move toward sulfate free and that our options will become greatly expanded. Do some google searching. Here is an awesome link. Start here. She lists professional products and products you can find at a drugstore, It’s been updated very recently, but a little more searching online will probably find you even more results. A store like Ulta is a great place to go explore also.I thought no-poo was only using baking soda to wash your hair. If I “washed” my hair with conditioner, my hair would be slathered to my face and head all day long. Doing the baking soda and vinegar wash is one way of no-pooing. It’s not the way I go because I have highlighted, damaged, and dry hair and I need MOISTURE MOISTURE MOISTURE. If you have nearly perfectly healthy hair and you are afraid of washing with conditioner then try the bs/v. Google “baking soda and vinegar hair wash” and find lots of instructions. You can always follow up the bs/v wash with a quick conditioner to help with the vinegar smell and add a little extra moisture.
I just realized the conditioner I am using is a no no. You mentioned to “condition your hair with a richer conditioner.” What is a richer conditioner? Do you have a suggestion for a store brand that would work well? Also, my scalp still gets pretty dry (or at least really itchy and flaky – but it doesn’t seem dry – I just don’t know what else to call it). Will changing my conditioner improve this?
Something that I personally haven’t tried, but I know Mariel has (hopefully she’ll chime in with a comment, wink wink nudge nudge) is the brown sugar scrub. There is a recipe for this in the Curly Girl book by Lorraine Massey. You take a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar and mix it with a couple of tablespoons of conditioner. Wet your hair and massage into your scalp. I found a blog where a girl had better results by first applying her conditioner and then applying the brown sugar to her scalp, so there’s another way you could try it. Scrub scrub, then rinse it all out. I’m excited to try this one next time I get a dry patch.
Is there a big difference between just using a sulfate free shampoo and silicone free conditioner, as opposed to the conditioner/conditioner option? Using a sulfate free shampoo and a silicone free conditioner is a great option. Those shampoos are far far more gentle than the evil kind, but even so they do have some surfactant qualities. But I’m not going to hate you for using sulfate free shampoo if the conditioner/conditioner option isn’t working. I’d love to see the whole dang world stop putting sulfates on their heads. 🙂
What about for kids’ hair? Yes! No-poo is great for kids! I use only conditioner on my kids, even all through the summer with swimming at the pool and everything. I usually use Suave or V05. Check labels for ‘cones!
What about straight fine hair? Can you still no-poo if your hair isn’t curly? Yes! Absolutely! The goal for everyone is healthy, shiny hair.
Lynette @ My Craft Discovery says
I have been no-pooing since your last post, and have loved the results! I got my first curly girl hair cut on Friday, and am happy with my hair for the first time in a few years! I have also tried the brown sugar scrub, and it not only helps my scalp feel better, but my hair is super soft that day. Thanks for introducing me to the Curly Girl book, I absolutely love it! A new edition is coming out in January, and I can’t wait!
Lynette @ My Craft Discovery says
I realized I do have a question though! I have been drying my hair naturally, because it’s been better for my hair, but with it getting cold, it just won’t work. My diffuser causes my hair to go pretty frizzy, and I really am not happy with it. I was wondering if you have any experience with the deva fuser, and if you like it. Thanks!
Mariel says
THANK YOU, KATE!! (You look sooo pretty in your picture…by the way)
Perfect post…so many of us had questions 🙂
Yep, loved the brown sugar thing. I especially loved it because the sugar does its scrubbing job but then dissolves…so, you’re not left with gritty crap in your hair.
Now, I’m off to check out your links…
Ashley says
Those with flaky scalps should try tea tree oil. Put a few drops on your shampoo or put a few drops in jojoba oil one night and then wash it out with your next shampoo. The jojoba will make it oily but is great for your skin/hair, so sleep in it or keep it in for the time you have to do this & then wash it. I also love Kirk’s fragrance free Castile soap for body & shampoo & then rinse with 1:3 ratio of vinegar to water & finish with a cold rinse. Works like a charm. If the ends are super dry I like jojoba oil. Only takes a little though. Jojoba oil is great b/c it doesn’t clog pores. I am one of super sensitive skin people with allergies.
Brooke says
KATE!! Great to see you back and answering all our question, too. I started the no-poo method after your last post… LOVE IT!! I have turned several other people into no-poo’ers, too. My daughter has thin hair and gets the flaky stuff in her scalp, so I am going to be trying the brush and brown sugar scrub on her. I have been using coconut oil on my own hair as a treatment overnight, but I think I need to try putting it in the ends during the day to help with frizz. I am also a curly girl, but my curls are still frizzy… I just need to find a good product. Also, I was wondering how you go about styling your hair. I have tried ‘plopping’ with mild success and have diffused successfully in the past but the diffuser I just bought is crap. What do you do to get such lovely defined curls without using a ton of product?
Jessica says
Kate- you’re the coolest! Thanks girl!
Cheeseboy says
Kate, I think you are amazing to do this. Still. You know I tried the no deodorant and that was a dismal failure. You’ve almost convinced me to try this though.
Nichole says
I have wanted to try this and everytime you blog about it I get more convinced. I have the curly/wavy hair that is a pain. Half wants to cut or wave (which is annoying in and of its self) and the other wants to be mostly straight. So, after reading todays post I tried it. Yep, I tried the no poo after the gym (when my hair is grossest!) and I was surprised at how clean it looks and feels and at how curly it went naturally! If this keep up, you have converted me for life! THANK YOU! THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
Megan says
Thank you Kate! I actually heard on another site about the baking soda no poo method and was intrigued, but I didn’t think it would work so well for me. I have very fine half curly half straight hair that is always oily. But, after reading your post and hitting all your links, I’m converted! I’ve been reading all the labels in every hair product in the house. I found out that my Garnier Wonder Waves spray is -cone free and that makes me happy because I love that product!
Thanks for posting!
Trish says
I stopped shampooing the day I read your previous post! I haven’t switched to a ‘cone-free conditioner yet because I had JUST bought some and…well…I’m kind of cheap 😉
But, even so, my hair has improved so much. I have had problems with a dry and itchy scalp for as long as I can remember. I’ve tried every dandruff shampoo around. Every dry scalp shampoo around. Nothing worked. No-pooing does though. Just this morning when I was doing my hair I thought…I don’t see any flakes. I almost cried 🙂
Beth @ Free Stylin' says
Kate!! I am THRILLED to read this because I have been trying to no-poo all summer, but I have been a tad frustrated. I haven’t given up, though! The tips here, and in your previous post (and the Deva Girl video), have been SO helpful and encouraging!! Now I’m thinking I may want to ask for Deva Curl products for Christmas. 😉 Love ya!!
Alicia says
I noticed someone said something about no deodorant, and I cannot find the post you did about that. Please let me know where I can find more info on that. I am planning on trying no-poo soon!
bofeglue says
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!
order cialis
Narjess says
I have been without shampoo for 6 months, I only use water to wash my hair. But now I have a major problem with dandruff which I did not have before going no poo. Does anyone know why this is happening?
orsoshesays says
You know, that happens to me sometimes too. Just the front part of my scalp gets dry skin, which I read is different from dandruff. I’m not sure why my scalp would get dry either, especially because there aren’t harsh chemicals being used. But, what I’ve done in the past is bring a cup of brown sugar in the shower and use that to exfoliate my scalp. It scrubs great and dissolves quickly. You could also try rubbing a little oil on the dry parts of your scalp a few hours before your shower and scrub. Maybe jojoba, almond, coconut, olive oil, or whatever your favorite is. Other than that, I would try doing a Google search for no-poo and dry scalp. Be sure to let me know if you find something that works for you!
Eileen says
I have been doing the bs/v no poo for a little over a month now and I have enjoyed the results! I have had a problem in the past 2 weeks or so with my scalp getting itchy and flaky after day 1, so I was looking for some answers. I will definately try the brown sugar scrub and the coconut oil to see how that goes! Thanks for the ideas!
catherine worley says
Does going no poo make your hair grow faster?
orsoshesays says
No, I don’t think so.
Abby says
I’m about 3 weeks in to no poo. I’ve decided to try this because ever since having a baby I have a dry scalp. I’ve tried a bunch of dandruff shampoos but I refuse to pay $20-$25 for a bottle of shampoo which seem to be the only ones I haven’t tried. Just today though, I see a lot of flakes. I’m hoping my scalp just hasn’t regulated yet. I will try the brown sugar tonight and hope for the best. Also, some days my hair seems so heavy and thick in a negative/oily way and other days it looks great which is giving me hope that this is the answer to my flaky scalp problems. Keeping my fingers crossed!
orsoshesays says
Oh, that’s awesome! Thanks for stopping back to comment.